I’m not really talking to you! I’m talking to myself, in another sort-of New Year’s resolution. Not a formal resolution, because I never find those work for me. More of an intention, really. In this case, an intention to tone down the grumbling and complaining I’m so liable to indulge in unless I’m watchful.

Winter is especially hard for me, because I don’t like winter. I don’t like cold, I’m not a big fan of snow (beyond those first magical five minutes), I like light and lots of it, not grey skies and long nights — yadda yadda yadda. So the other day I was roaming the aisles at Stop n Shop (my only consistent winter exercise) and I was complaining. There’s nothing beautiful to see, nothing beautiful to photograph, nothing beautiful to look for. Nothing — Wait a minute. Yes. Right here in this aisle. Maybe something. Maybe a lot of somethings?

Of course, I had found myself in the flower department, and instead of stalking past with blinders on, for once I actually looked at what was there. Beauty. Color. Signs of Spring and hope, right there under my nose all along. I wonder what else I’ve been missing?

(My mother used to say dryly, Complaint Department is on the roof. Did your mom have a special response to grumbling?)

I like snow and Winter, so last winter I felt like you. We had NO snow, everything looked greyish-brown, but right now it’s nice and white … I’m pleased. Yesterday, in the grocery store, it struck me how nice the fruit counter looked, with all the colours … oranges, lime, lemons …green apples and so on — happy colours! 🙂
Stop ‘n Shop …is that the same as Hannaford?

We’ve been in Hannafords in Maine, I like them a lot, but don’t think they’re the same as Stop ‘n Shop. Maybe I’ll Google —
What a great idea about the produce, I start shopping there every day practically, but haven’t really LOOKED at it! Thanks, Rebekah.

I’m with you on the snow. Living in Texas for a year as a teen, we woke to snow one winter morning. It was the first time we had experienced it. My whole family rushed out and played but after about 5 min it was all over for me – back into bed and glad that school was cancelled for the day! Ironically I ended up living in Iceland for 5 years in my twenties. Wonderland to look at and all but my bones were never warm like they are in Africa. Useful for skiing though!
Not too much longer and spring will have sprung for you. Hang in there.
P.S. I have just opened another branch of your Mom’s Complaints Depo 🙂

Thanks very much, Cocomino. We have a fifth season to go through before it will arrive: it is called Mud Season! It begins in March and lasts the whole month of April, which is perhaps the most beautiful of all in Japan!

Beautiful!! Thanks for the push to open the eyes and senses. I’m not a fan of winter. The season of hot baths! T. (My grandmother used to say, “Pull yourself together.” During difficult times, I still hear her words.)

“the complaint department is on the roof”. I love that. I’m not much of a complainer myself, probably because I live in my own little world – and they like me there, but I do tend to notice it in others and find it extremely energy draining. I’m going to adopt your mother’s expression for those times.

And there you have the crux – “stalking past with blinders on.” Let those who have eyes, see. I like the word intention. If you intend to see (or do or hear) something, whatever it is tends to pop up everywhere. The trick is remembering to keep your eyes and your mind open.

My mother used to say, “Cheer up. It could be worse,” which always infuriated me because I wanted it to be better, and thinking of things being worse was depressing, not cheering. When I became a mother I would tell my children to be grateful for what they did have, not anxious for what they didn’t. I still practice that when things start to look dire – my own version of counting my blessings.

Is it a line from Kabir, or just a proverb: My love is in my eyes. That is why I see him everywhere.
Intention, yes, key.
My mother would say This too shall pass, and I absolutely HATED it!
Not for the first time, Sister!

Lol love the title! Your mother was a wise woman. The flowers are lovely and I hope the cold and dreary days pass soon. I head down to the supermarkets for walks too – to hide from the crazy weather over here where we’re alternating between unbearably hot days and days with storms and flash floods!

… oh, the special answers we used to get from our elders! I did not like them then but I came to love them now.
“Those who are afraid won’t even be safe in heaven” (“Wer Angst hat, ist auch im Himmel nicht sicher”) is what my grandfather would say to encourage us kids to be a bit more courageous.
And when we begged our parents to have this or that, they would reply, “and the goat wanted a long tail.”
I think there is some humour in those – but that’s lost on a child. I kind of like sharing these now – evidently.
– – –
Great post and the discussion is worth reading, too. I’ll try and make a picture that means “warm” for you someday soon, Judith!

I like that saying of your grandfather’s, I may borrow it. I could use some more courage —
But I agree with you about the goat and the long tail, and others like those — yes, humor, for those who laugh! Which surely was those who said it, not those who heard it, like us children. For us, not so funny.
A warm picture would be MUCH appreciated, today the thermometer is going down to zero degrees fahrenheit. With wind chill, feels lower than that.
😦